A New Day Adult Day Services

For Caregivers

Caring for someone on a regular basis is a mixed experience. There are the positive feelings associated with helping others.  If you’re caring for your mother, father, or spouse, there is the satisfaction of knowing you are, in some way, returning the support they once provided you.  Caring for a frail relative also has its difficulties. Most caregivers experience some of these feelings:

	A sense of isolation, of being alone with a huge responsibility.
	Worry or doubt about the quality of the care they are providing.
	Guilt that they are not doing enough.
	Resentment toward the person cared for.
	Anger at the lack of time they have for themselves and their families.
	Frustration that this is not what they had planned for this time in their lives.
	Fear about how much longer they can keep this up, given all of the other demands on their time.
	Confusion about where to turn for help.
	A sense of loss because the person they love has changed so much.
	Physical fatigue.

A New Day Adult Day Services can help you with these feelings.  Call 260.927.3624 to discuss your options.

Any of these responses, either alone or in combination, can lead to a sense of being overwhelmed. This is both common and understandable.  It is important to monitor yourself and be alert to signs of caregiver exhaustion:

	Feeling drained of time and energy.
	Loss of sleep.
	Bottled up feelings of anger or frustration.
	Feeling trapped.
	Being reluctant to seek outside help.
	Being focused excessively on caregiving.

Taking Care of Yourself

There are steps you can take to avoid or reverse caregiver exhaustion.  Remember: taking care of yourself is taking care of the person who depends on you.  Try some of these ideas drawn from the experiences of many caregivers like yourself:

• Share decision-making
  As long as the person you are caring for is able, involve him or her in the decisions that go along with care; try to be active partners.  It will help your loved one retain a sense of independence, while taking some of the burden off of you.
• Remember your needs
  You need time to get away from your role as caregiver, to relax and to get additional support.  These needs may create feelings of conflict or guilt, but again remember: you are taking care of the person who needs you by taking care of yourself.
• Anticipate needs
  The earlier you discuss needs, the more time you have to explore possibilities.  Then you will feel better about the choices you need to make in the future.
• Understand what you are dealing with
  Gather information about the specific disease or conditions of the person you’re caring for.  The more you know, the better you’ll be able to plan for the future.
• Involve others
  Ask other family members and friends for help. People usually are willing and pleased to be asked; they just may not volunteer. Consider a family meeting to brainstorm ideas and to see how to share responsibilities.
• Talk
  Share with someone outside the family about your reactions to caregiving.  Use a friend who isn’t close to the situation as a sounding-board.
• Be flexible
  Just when you think you are in control, something will change.  Being thrown off balance is frustrating; try to be ready for change.

Help is Available

As a caregiver, you are never alone.  There are many people—family, friends, health care professionals, community services and others—who can help.  A New Day Adult Day Services can help you meet the challenges of being a caregiver.  Call us today.